Tragedy drives Ivory Coast's Diomande at World Cup

When Ivory Coast's teenage sensation Yan Diomande lines up on the wing against Germany in their second World Cup match on Saturday (21:00 BST), he will be the subject of huge attention from millions around the world. Just how good is he? Can he put on a show against one of the best teams in the competition? How would his speed and dribbling translate to the Premier League? But Diomande's own focus will be on one thing - making his little sister Roxanne proud. She died a year ago, aged 15, after her drink was spiked.

A letter of love and loss

"Everything I do on a football pitch, it's for you," the 19-year-old wrote in a heartfelt and searingly honest letter published by The Players' Tribune this week. Diomande - who scored 12 goals for RB Leipzig in his debut season in the Bundesliga last year - outlined how much his sister's belief in his ability as a footballer has underpinned his career so far.

"I don't even look at it like a game," he wrote. "I look at it like a stage. This is my chance to show the whole world what you saw in me. Every time I score, I'll make sure everybody knows your name. I'll make sure they don't forget you."

Diomande continued: "Now, I don't feel anything. It's like I'm not even human. Since you died, I'm just blank. I don't try to forget, because I know I won't forget. All I can do is use the pain to work harder, and to do everything we dreamed about."

From Leganes to Leipzig: A journey shaped by grief

Such a painful loss was rendered even more difficult for Diomande as he was living away from his loved ones, playing for Spanish side Leganes. Having subsequently moved to Germany and drawn widespread acclaim for his performances and output, Diomande is now determined to make a success of the World Cup - not for himself, but for his sister, family and everybody else back home.

"We're here to represent millions of people and play for our loved ones and our families," he says. "It makes us want to go out there and make an impact."

Ivory Coast's World Cup hopes

Ivory Coast have played in the World Cup three times before - in 2006, 2010, and 2014 - but never made it beyond the group stage despite fielding teams including global icons like Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba. But their opening win over Ecuador has put them in a strong position to progress, and Diomande believes there is a key difference between the current squad and those which went before.

"I think we have more desire," he says. "There isn't a lot of expectation on us, so we have nothing to lose and we'll give it everything. That's what our mentality needs to be."

If Ivory Coast are to go far in the competition, Diomande will need to play a key role in their success. Despite his tender age, his team-mates are confident in his ability to make a difference.

"The 'golden boy', as we call him," says Amad Diallo, the Manchester United winger who came off the bench to score the winner against Ecuador. "Penetration, dribbling - his speciality, he's someone who is very strong one on one."

'At 19, Diomande is the hope of a nation'

Ivorians have long been aware of Diomande's talent, and believe he can become a leader in a team capable of reaching new heights.

"He really captured the hearts of Ivorians last October, when he showed his class in a World Cup qualifier against Kenya," says Mamadou Gaye, a veteran Ivorian broadcaster and journalist. "Since then many are saying that he is the heir to Didier Drogba for us. At 19, he is the hope of a nation."

"He comes from a very modest part of Abidjan. He shared meals, housework, and even a bedroom with his little sister. He was incredibly attached to her. The shocking circumstances of her death highlight the precarious conditions that a lot of young footballers like him dream to get away from. His letter to her is a cry of love and message about nefarious intentions and criminality understood by the youth of the Ivory Coast and Africa."